10. Ten
Ten
N oise and flashing lights assailed Ben’s senses as they entered the main bar area of the club. The music wasn’t so loud you had to shout at your conversation partner, but it added a layer to an already overwhelming situation.
Ben could see Wil craning his neck, looking for someone. It wasn’t often he cursed his smaller stature, but he’d have given anything to have the extra three or four inches that Wil had on him right now.
“Who are you looking for?” he asked, thinking he may be able to help.
“It’s okay, I see them,” Wil said, turning back to their group. “Miles and Liam are over in the far corner. Looks like they’ve got a booth reserved.”
Hooking two fingers into the belt loop on the back of Wil’s jeans so as not to lose him, Ben followed his boyfriend through the crowd. He soon spotted the tall, imposing figure of Miles chatting to a man in a suit.
Miles broke off his conversation at the sight of them. He shook the man’s hand before turning his attention to the group as they approached.
Ben hung back as greetings were exchanged and was pleasantly surprised when Miles gave him a firm handshake and thanked him for coming along.
“Where are Taylor, Alex, Dave, and Gabe?” Wil asked, naming the members of Eclipse.
“They’re working the crowd,” Liam told them. “They’ll be over in a minute to say hi before getting on stage.”
As a server appeared and took their drink orders, Ben took a few moments to absorb everything going on. The crowded club buzzed with a diverse mix of people, making Ben feel very out of place. It seemed like he had slipped into an alternate reality where he was hanging out with A-list celebrities and talking about them as if they were just regular guys.
Their drinks arrived, and Ben had just taken a mouthful of his vodka soda when the four members of Eclipse arrived. He almost choked when the lead singer, Taylor, grabbed Wil in a tight bro-hug.
“Wil, my man. Wasn’t sure if you’d make it tonight.”
With a hearty slap to the other man’s back, Wil laughed. “Wouldn’t have missed it for anything but thank you for scheduling it during spring break.” Taking a step back, Wil placed a hand on Ben’s shoulder. “Tay, this is my boyfriend, Ben. He’s a huge fan.”
Ben shot Wil a glare. He didn’t want everyone to know he was quietly fanboying. Taylor smiled at him, holding out a hand. “Hey, Ben. Great to meet you.” He threw a side-eyed glance at Wil. “Boyfriend, huh?”
Wil wrapped an arm around Ben’s shoulders, smiling down at him. “Yeah. It’s pretty new, but we’re enjoying getting to know each other.”
“Well, congrats.” He turned to Ben. “So, you like our music?”
“Yeah, I do.” Ben flicked a smirk up at Wil. “In fact, one of your songs played a role in our meeting.”
“Really?” Taylor’s eyes shone with curiosity. “Which one, and how?”
“Really?” echoed Wil, looking at him in surprise.
Ben nodded at them both. “We were at a frat party, and my roommate had ditched me. I heard ‘Yellow Roses’ playing in the other room and went to see if I could find who was in charge of the music to compliment them on their choices.”
“Ah,” Wil said, understanding dawning. “That’s why you came into the room.”
“And your eyes met across the crowded room, and the rest is history?” Seth said, mock swooning with a hand to his forehead.
Ben met Wil’s gaze, and they grinned. “Um. No.”
“No? I said yesterday there was a story there,” Seth said. “Come on. You’ve got to tell us now.”
Wil looked at him in askance, and Ben nodded, giving his permission for Wil to tell the tale.
“I was playing Truth or Dare, and it was my turn. I chose dare, and had to kiss the next person who walked into the room.”
Ben was glad he only told them the bare bones of the dare. He didn’t need them to know that Wil had his tongue down his throat less than five minutes after meeting him.
“And Ben was the next person?”
“Yes,” Wil confirmed.
“Hang on,” Jamie said, frowning at them. “You kissed first, then started dating.”
They nodded as Taylor laughed. “Must have been a hell of a kiss.”
Ben looked up at Wil. “It sure was.”
“You’re gonna love one of the new album tracks,” he continued. “Speaking of which, we’d better get backstage and organized. You’re here all week, Wil?”
At Wil’s nod, he slapped him on the shoulder. “We’ll catch up then. Need to talk to you about the summer tour.”
With that, he and his band members disappeared towards the back of the club.
“Come on, let’s find a place to stand,” Wil said, nodding to the crowded floor.
“What? You’re not going to sit with us?” Kellet asked.
“Nope,” Wil replied with a grin. “We want to party, not sit with a group of old men.”
Outraged responses greeted Wil’s statement as he tugged a laughing Ben away.